Why were Afghanistan included with the British empire?

Afghanistan was included in British imperial interests primarily due to its strategic location between British India and Russia, which was seen as a threat during the Great Game—a geopolitical struggle for influence in Central Asia. The British sought to secure their Indian territories from potential Russian expansion, leading to military interventions and the establishment of a buffer state. Despite multiple conflicts, including the two Anglo-Afghan Wars, Afghanistan remained largely independent, but its geopolitics were deeply influenced by British interests.